While The Cord visited the set near Kitchener City Hall, curious pedestrians waited behind security and desperately tried to grab a peek at filming.

For Mather, KW was the perfect size for filming the Canadian comedy – “Big enough to merit its own bus system, but small enough that people know each other.”

In the show, KW stands in as the fictional medium-sized town of Wessex, Ontario.

After scouting different Ontario cities, Mather explains that they choose KW because “Kitchener has a great city hall and a new downtown strip, [plus the city] has been great.” The show stars Ewanuick playing Dan, a 30-something bachelor-bartender.

For Fred Ewanuick, famed oddball sweetheart from Canadian television’s staple Corner Gas, getting the part was a big deal.

“It feels pretty awesome actually…. Now I’m exactly where I want to be.” Adjusting to the character and his fellow cast members was equally “awesome,” explains Ewanuick.

“It was really easy, this character was written so close to pretty much who I am normally … except I think I have my life together a little more,” he said. Comparing it to working with his “Corner Gas family,” Ewanuick insists that everyone gets along.

Spending just an afternoon with the cast and crew, one starts to believe him.

Praising all his fellow cast members, Ewaniuck lists off every one of them in fear of missing someone, but jokingly adds, “They might secretly hate me, but they’re really good actors if they do.” Among Ewaniuck’s numerous co-stars are Mary Ashton (Degrassi Goes Hollywood) as Dan’s ex-girlfriend Claire and Second City veteran Paul Bates, who plays Dan’s politically clueless campaign manager and best friend. Speaking with Bates, he explained his transition to television from live comedy shows, a drastically different medium.

“Second City eventually drives you a little bonkers,” said Bates.

“So I left [even though] … I didn’t know what I was leaving for.”

Apparently he was leaving for Dan for Mayor; Bates feels he’s become comfortable, loving his character that requires the same dry sarcastic tone as his own. Though he enjoys filming in KW, noting that the area is “wearing autumn well,” Bates complains about his difficulty in finding a good place to eat but is quite excited to attempt the uniquely named establishment Chainsaw.

“I would assume that as soon as I walk in there, I would get punched in the face, that would be the cover charge,” he joked. Filming of Dan for Mayor has recently wrapped, moving the show into post-production before its 2010 fall release. Hoping to create a series that justifies the need for Canadian content, Mather and Ewaniuck want their efforts to translate into a show that people watch.